New Year?s Filly arrives, still waiting on a New Year?s Baby

January 8, 2003 Editor

As the New Year gets under way, the Advance staff is patiently waiting for a phone call for the winner of the ?First Baby Contest.? But what arrived instead? A New Year?s filly named ?Gracie,? between the hours of 1:30 and 2 a.m. January 1.

Chances are good Gracie won?t be able to collect on the prizes for the New Year?s Baby, but she?s a happy-go-lucky filly born to Sandy, a 12-year-old quarterhorse mare, who lives with Nyle Wickersham and Cindy Kieliszewski near County Highway 634 off Urban Road in Metz Township.

Sandy and her foal Gracie are actually owned by Jim and Julie Shields of Hillman. ?We were down here in the barn at 1:15 a.m. and Sandy hadn?t foaled yet,? said Nyle. ?When we checked again at 2 a.m., Gracie was up and running around in here!?

Gracie is considered a ?paint? horse because her father, ?Leroy,? is a four-year-old paint officially named ?Mr. Fancy Tradition.? Leroy also is owned by the Shieldses and he has earned ?Superior Halter Horse? in both open and amateur classes. In two years he has earned $40,000 in futurities.

?That?s where Gracie is going,? said Cindy. ?She?ll also be a halter horse. Because she?s a paint, it?ll be a while before we?ll know if there are any markings or other colors on her.?

RIGHT NOW, Gracie has a beautiful white star marking on her forehead and the rest of her is a scruffy roan c

olor. She is an active youngster, rearing up and striking up her heels with zestful perkiness at a moments notice. In the next stall is the 23-year-old mother of Sandy named Pretty followed by Ginger, Sunshine, and Pete, all owned by Cindy and Nyle.

Gracie will remain with Cindy and Nyle for four or five months until she is weaned, and then will go to the Shields? home in Hillman for halter-futurity training. ?Julie and Jim Shields? horses have really good minds,? Cindy said. ?It doesn?t matter sometimes what color or breed they are, what?s important is their mind. These are all good, smart, and willing horses.?

According to Cindy, what is looked at in a halter horse is the confirmation standards, and Gracie is expected to be first in her class. Because the Jockey Club has said that any horse born after the January 1 date is considered a one-year-old for that year, Gracie will have the most time in development and training for her group of yearlings.